Chapter six

Wilbur Wonka

Willy stared at them without saying anything for about a minute. "You mean, you're the only one?" he said eventually.

"Yes." Charlie said with a smile. Esther did not know if it was her imagination but she felt as though Willy was trying not to smile right now.

"What happened to the others?" he said innocently and then a smile did come on to his face and he grabbed Charlie's hand. "Oh, my dear boy, but that mean's you've won. Oh, I do congratulate you. I really do. I'm absolutely delighted. I had a hunch you know, right from the beginning. Well done. Now, we mustn't dilly, or dally." Esther's head spun with the speed in which he was talking to them and Willy eventually let go of Charlie's hand and turned away and started to walk again. "Because we have an enormous number of things to do before the day's out. But luckily for us, we have the great glass elevator to speed things al. . ." Esther and Charlie winced as he banged into the elevator and fell to the ground. They ran to him to make sure he was ok. "Speed things along. Come on." he said shyly, and Esther was sure he was blushing, and pushed the button to open the elevator. They stepped inside and he pressed a button called 'Up and Out.' What kind of room was that? Esther thought to herself and frowned.

"Up and out? What kind of room is that?" Charlie asked, saying what she was thinking. Mr Wonka seemed to be rather excited about something and had a huge grin on his face. They seemed to be going faster than usual and were heading straight up.

"Hold on." he told them. "Oh, my goodness. We're gonna need to go much faster, otherwise we'll just never break through." Mr Wonka muttered to himself and looked up. Charlie and Esther looked at each other.

"Break through what?" If anything Mr Wonka's smile seemed to increase.

"I've been longing to press that button for years. Well, here we go. Up and out!" He giggled excitedly and Esther's eyes widened when she realised what he was saying. Oh my, this man was insane!

"But do you really mean. . .?" she asked nervously and he frantically nodded his head and gave her a wide smile.

"Yeah, I do."

"But it's made of glass." she cried. "It'll smash into a million pieces." He just chuckled and she grabbed onto her brother and Mr Wonka when they fianlly reached the top and smashed through the glass roof and into the air. They went up and then shot down. Esther's grip tightened and he quickly pressed another button. Some kind of metal contraptions shot out and fire came out to hold them up. The paused in mid-air and watched as the factory doors opened and the other contestants came out of the building and out of the factory grounds.

Mrs Gloop and her son Augustus were walking out first and her son was covered in chocolate and he seemed to be licking his fingers from what she could see. Next came Violet. Her skin was still the colour violet that she had turned during the time when she was turned into a blueberry but now she was no longer huge but back to the size she was when she entered. However, she seemed to be very flexible now as she cartwheeled and backflipped down the steps. After them came Veruca and her father covered in rubbish and trash. Veruca looked up at them and then at her father. Esther could guess she was asking for a glass elevator. Typical. Lastly came Mike. Esther knew it was cruel but she was laughing in her head. Mike was very tall now but from the side you could hardly see him. He was as thin as a piece of paper.

"Where do you live?" Mr Wonka asked and they looked out the elevator to find it.

"Right over there. That little house." Charlie said and pointed to their house. Esther felt a little embarressed but Willy smiled and pressed a button and they zoomed towards their destination. Apparently Willy had not managed to work on landings as he went right through the roof. Their parents jumped out the way and they narrowly missed the bed.

"I think there's someone at the door." Grandma Georgina muttered and Esther smiled, she always could make her smile.

"Hi, Mom." Charlie shouted and jumped out of the elevator. Esther smiled at Willy before she stepped out herself and Willy followed. "Mom. Dad. We're back." Mr and Mrs Bucket looked grimly up at the ceiling. "This is Willy Wonka. He gave us a ride home."

"I can see that." their dad said still looking at the ceiling.

"You must be their. . ." Willy said and choked on the word again. Esther thought it was rather cute when he did it.

"Parents?" Mr Bucket offered and he nodded his head.

"Yeah. That." he said relieved and started to look around the room.

"He says Charlie's won something." Esther piped up as it had gone rather silent and awkward.

"Not just some something. The most 'something' something of any something that's ever been. I'm gonna give this little boy my entire factory." Willy said as he looked at the model Charlie had made of his factory.

"You must be joking." she exclaimed and he smiled at her.

"No, really. It's true." he said and shook his head. "Because, you see, a few months ago, I was having my semi-annual haircut. . . and I had the strangest revelation. In that one silver hair, I saw reflected my life's work, my factory, my beloved Oompa-Loompas. Who would watch over them after I was gone? I realised in that moment, 'I must find and Heir'. And I did, Charlie. You." He turned to face Charlie and smiled at him. Charlie was in shock.

"That's why you sent out the golden tickets." Esther guessed.

"Ah-ha."

"What are Oompa-Loompas?" Esther heard her mother say to her father.

"I invited five children to the factory and the one who was the least rotten would be the winner." Willy went on.

"That's you, Charlie." Esther grinned at her brother.

"So what do you say? Are you ready to leave all this behind and come live with me at the factory?" Willy giggled.

"Sure. Of course. I mean, it's all right if my family come too?" Charlie asked.

"Oh, my dear boy, of course they can't." Willy said with the smile still on his face. Charlie's family seemed to be a little more than shocked. "You can't run a chocolate factory with a family hanging over you like an old, dead goose. No offence." he said the last bit to the people in the bed.

"None taken, jerk." Grandpa George cursed and Willy narrowed his eyes at him.

"A chocolatier has to run free and solo. He has to follow his dreams. Gosh darn the consequences. Look at me. I had no family, and I'm a giant success." Willy grabbed his cane tighter and smiled wider. Esther looked down. She could not believe what he was saying.

"So if I go with you to the factory, I won't ever see my family again?" Charlie asked slowly, as if to be able to understand what he was telling him.

"Yeah. Consider that a bonus."

Charlie shook his head. "Then I'm not going. I wouldn't give up my family for anything. Not for all the chocolate in the world." Mr Wonka seemed to be thrown a little and frowned.

"Oh, I see. That's weird." His hand tightened on the cane and he gulped. "There's other candy too besides chocolate." he said as if to try and sway him.

"I'm sorry, Mr Wonka. I'm staying here." Charlie said firmly.

"Wow. Well, that's just. . . unexpected. . . and weird." he muttered. "But I suppose, in that case, I'll just. . . Goodbye, then." he said and walked to the elevator. He looked at Esther who was still looking at the ground and frowned even more. "Sure you won't change your mind?"

"I'm sure." Charlie said with a hard look and Willy finally stepped into the elevator and looked down at the floor.

"Okay. Bye." It was silent as Willy took off and left the house. Esther had actually thought that he was a nice man, she liked him and he turned out to be rather cruel. Who would try and take someone's family away? She blinked back some tears.

"Things are going to get much better." Grandma Georgina said breaking the tense silence.

And for once, Grandma Georgina knew exactly what she was talking about. The next morning, Charlie and Esther helped their parents fix the hole in the roof. Grandpa Joe spent the whole day out of bed and he didn't feel tired at all. Charlie's and Esther's father got a better job at the toothpaste factory. . . repairing the machine that had replaced him in the first place. Things had never been better for the Bucket family. The same could not be said for Willy Wonka however. His new candies were not selling very well and only the Wonka bars seemed to be getting sold. Charlie had taken up a job buffing shoes and Esther was still at her same job but she had the day off as it was Saturday luckily and she was currently in the candy shop getting some chocolate.

"Pity about that chocolate fellow, Wendell, er, Walter." said the guy whose shoes Charlie was cleaning.

"Willy Wonka." Charlie corrected.

"That's the one. Says here in the paper his new candies aren't selling very well. But I suppose he's just a rotten egg who deserves it." the man said as he looked at the paper.

"Yep." Charlie said and rubbed some polish on the brush.

"Oh, really? You ever met him?"

"I did. I thought he was great at first, but then he didn't turn out so nice." Charlie told him. "He also has a funny haircut." he added and the man threw down his paper and scowled at him.

"I do not!" Willy defended. Charlie sighed and looked up at him.

"Why are you here?" he asked tiredly.

"I don't feel so hot. What makes you feel better when you feel terrible?" Willy asked and frowned.

"My family." he responded immediately and Willy grimaced.

"Euw." he muttered and looked away.

"What do you have against my family?" Charlie demanded and scowled up at him. He was getting sick of Mr Wonka going on about his family. Willy sighed and looked at him.

"It's not just your family. It's the whole idea of. . . You know, they're always telling you what to do, what not to do, and it's not conducive to a creative atmosphere." he huffed and looked away again. Charlie's eyes softened.

"Usually they're just trying to protect you because they love you. If you don't believe me, you should ask." he said gently and Willy scoffed.

"Ask who? My father? No way." He folded his arms and pouted. "At least, not by myself." he said shyly.

"You want me to go with you?" he asked and Willy beamed.

"Hey. Hey, what a good idea. Yeah!" he said excitedly.

"On one condition." Charlie said and Willy looked at him expectantly.

"What?"

"I get to bring someone along." he said and Willy had a vague idea about who he was talking about. He nodded his head and Charlie jumped up and ran to the shop where he had started his business. He came out a second later dragging Esther who had one of his chocolate bars in her hand.

"What is going on?" she huffed and froze when she saw Willy. He smiled shyly at her and she smiled back slightly.

"Hey!" he said and she just blinked. She couldn't believe it! She thought she would never see him again.

"Hi." she said softly and Charlie grinned at them.

"Come on let's go." he urged and Willy nodded his head. He spun on his heel and started to walk.

"And you know what? I got transp. . ." Esther and Charlie winced as he banged into the elevator and ran to see if he was ok, again. "I have to be more careful where I park this thing." he mumbled to himself and they got into the elevator. He pressed a button and they shot off into the air. It took some time but they eventually came to their destination and landed. There was a lot of snow everywhere and there was a lone house stood in the middle. "I think we've got the wrong house." Willy said and tried to go back but Esther grabbed his hand.

"Come on Mr Wonka. It will be fine." she soothed.

"Don't call me that."

"What?" she said confused.

"Don't call me Mr Wonka." he said. "Call me Willy." Esther smiled and nodded her head but didn't let go of his hand and dragged him to the house as she could tell he was very nervous. They knocked on the door and waited. The door opened a second later and a man in a white dentist suit opened the door. He had white hair and a white beard with flecks of grey in it.

"Do you have an appointment?" he said in a deep voice, looking at them a little suspicously.

"No. But he's overdue." Charlie said and smiled. He let them in and made their way to a back room. Willy was led over to the dentist chair while Esther and Charlie walked over to the right side of the room where there seemed to be posters and files filled with all the reports and clips about Willy and his factory. Esther smiled softly and looked at the duo. No matter what he did to Willy when he was younger or said to him it was obvious that he loved his son very much.

"Do you miss him?" she asked bluntly and Mr Wonka looked at her and Willy gave her a confused look, she just smiled. She nodded to the newspapers and Wilbur nodded his head.

"Every day." he said and turned back to Willy. Esther winked at Willy and turned to Charlie and listened to the conversation that was going on between Willy and his father.

"Open. Now, let's see what the damage is, shall we?" Wilbur murmured as he pushed Willy back in the seat. "Heavens. I haven't seen bicuspids like these since. . . Since... Willy?" There was a silence as Willy sat up in the seat.

"Hi, Dad." he said cutely and shyly. Wilbur stood up straight and looked at him. He clenched his fist and put down the instruments that was in his hands.

"All these years. . . and you haven't flossed." he said and Esther nearly snorted in amusement. They had not seen each other for about twenty years and this is what he chose to say to him. She shook her head and chuckled under her breath.

"Not once." Willy said and shook his head. Esther and Charlie watched silently as the two men hugged hesitantly and then finally relaxed. Esther and Charlie smiled, happy that Willy was finally back on track and had his father back. They stayed for a few more hours and had some tea and the two men caught up from the years apart. When they left they promised to come back some time and they got into the elevator. "Charlie?" Willy said as they were flying home. Esther noted that he seemd rather nervous right now.

"Yes Willy?"

"I was, er, wondering..." he gulped loudly.

"Yes?"

"I would like to ask if you would accept the offer I gave you." he said and his eyes flickered to Esther. "But this time you're family can come too." Charlie and Esther beamed at him.

"Do you mean that?" Charlie asked excitedly. Willy nodded his head.

"Of course I do. Family isn't so bad." he eventually told them with a smile on his face.